1950s Motorsport in Colour
By Martyn Wainwright
Looking at black-and-white photos is all very nice, but do they really convey the feeling and excitement of being there? We certainly don’t live in a B&W world and when color is added the scene comes alive. Martyn Wainwright was a photographer during the 1950s who took mostly b&w photos for various U.K. publications. However, while at race meetings, both major and obscure, he had the forethought of taking along a roll or two of color transparency film for his own amusement. For many years, the resultant slides lived in the attic of his home, until resurrected in 1998.
Lovers of motorsport of the 1950s can be very pleased indeed with their resurrection, as the color photos are just wonderful. There are images from the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree, Dundrod Tourist Trophy of 1954, Shelsley Walsh, numerous Goodwood meetings and even a series from an obscure hillclimb at Lisdoonvarna, Eire in June 1955. As you would expect, the drivers and cars of the period are very much in evidence—Moss, Fangio, Hawthorn, Salvadori and Scott Brown with their Vanwalls, Coopers, Maseratis, Mercedes, Listers and Jaguars. The color makes it all appear that the races occurred just last month. A wonderful reflection of the classic period and highly recommended.
Available for $91.33 from Veloce Publishing or visit www.velocebooks.com
